davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18
THE ANARCHISTS.
A Few Facts Concerning the LIvos OF
the Criminals,

Few Facts Concerning the LIvcs OF
the Criminals.
The terrible responsibility of being the
local leader of the Chicago Anarchists, the
murderers of members of the police force of
that city, is carrie ] by August Spies. This
man was born at Basel, Germany, in 1855
He went to Chicago when he was II, and
learned the trade of saddle maker but threw
up this occupation after two years and went
on tramp through the West and South. As
an agitator it was easy for him to obtain
employment in the office of the daily organ
of the Socialists. While working for the
paper, he began to study the scientific side of
his education. One year later, he
was business manager of the paper,
and in 1878 he obtained the editorial
control. When Johann Most went to Chicago
the first time, he found in Spies an only too
willing follower. Spies gradually changed
the politics and tone of the paper until 1t be-
came the mouthpiece Of dynamiters, an! the
most dangerous classes. Later, he published
newspapers both in German and English.
A. r. Parsons, one of the most rabid of the
agitators, whose infammatory speech in Chi
cago was the melting cause of the riots, was
4 native of Massachusetts, about 45 years of
age. He made his appearance in the coke
regions of Pennsylvania during the strike of
;he Hungarians, and, it is alleged, is respon-
Ibl0 LOi ubo llOUo anu ueSuIuCUl vi property
there at that time. He is also known to have
performed the most active part in melting the
Hooking Valley miners to their acts of vio-
.ence. In Chicago, during the winter Of
1885, he edited the Alarm. Like the
Arbeiter Zeitung, the Alrrm gavo instruc-
lions in the manufacture of dynamite and
dynamite bombs. Not only was Parsons
the most rabid of his ill1, but he was also the
most dangerous. He was a ''dead shot"
and was for years scout in Texas. AL
though he made himself so conspicuous in
The riots, he was not in favor with the mass
Of Anarchists, for, in accordance with his
principles, he always refused to do any
work, and therefore proved burden rather
than help to his party. In letter to the
News, before his capture he said: at must
5e liberty for the people, or death to capital.
[ am not choosing men. Hove humanity,
and therefore die for it now. Every drop of
my blood shall cost an avenger and war in
America | have no5 slept, nor shall 1
sleep until l sleep in death, or my fellowmen
are on the road to liberty"
Schwab who was arrested at the same time
as Spies, and the other Anarchists, was the
associate editor of the Arbeiter Zeitung of
Chicago. Schwab was a bookbinder by
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18
A Japanese Street.

To stroll down the principal street of
Toxic, of an evening, is a species of
liberal education. Long lines of gayly-
lighted shops, crammed with wares to
captivate alike the novice and the con-
noisseur, look out upon an equally end
less succession of torchlit booths, that
display happy medley of old curios
and new conceits. Here the very latest
thing in inventions, a gutta-percha rat,
that for some reason best known to the
vendor scampers about squeaking with a
mlmicry to shame the original, holds an
admiring crowd spellbound with min
gled trepidation and delight.
There a native zoetrope, ingenious
round of pleasure, whose top, fashioned
after the type of a turbine wheel, ena-
bles candle in the centre to supply
both illumination and motive power at
the same time, affords to as many as can
find room on its circumference a peep
at the composite antics of consecu-
lively pictured monkey in the act of
jumping a box. Then again it is some
flower stand, in the growth of whose
shrubs art has dared even to interfere
with nature, and begotten forms which
the parent plant would fail to recog-
nize, while opposite this show is
booth that, among its other curiosities,
has 70 sale little microscopes with legs.
Thus from one attraction to another you
wander on for miles, carried along with
the tide of pleasure seekers in a sort of
realized dream. Atlantic Monthly.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18

eral places, from which the blood flowed
copiousy.
'Open your eyes, Lingg." exclaimed tho
jail doctor when he reached the room. To
the astonishment of the by-standers, Lingg's
eyes opened and looked calmly about
him. He was Immediately raised to a table
and propped up with pillows, was washed
hurriedly, while cloth bandages were passed
around the lower part of the face and around
the top of the head, hiding all bit the nose,
eyes and forehead, all loose, dangling bones
and flesh being cut away.
The gutta percha mouth of a fountain
syringe was inserted with a doctors finger
into the great hole left by the dynamite. BY
this method water and brandy were admin
istered This was repeated at intervals,
ltingg meanwhile gazing steadfastly about
him, watching every move of those in the
room, but apparently indifferent to what
they did and caring nothing about the al
most ceaseless slamming OF the door only q
few feet distant Every now and then,
without seeming immediate cause, q fearful,
hollow groaning would sound through the
bandages Listeners, aghast, would aban-
don the room only to give place to a new set
notyet weakened by the horrors within tho
death chamber
Lingg's breathing gradually became
slower, The pallor on the forehead deepcned.
A slight glaze was noticed in the now sllnllcn
eyes. Some one said, "he is dying" and the
reporters made rush to tho nearest tcle-
phones Lingg's big breast heaved once and
was still. His eyes looked straight ahead
with something of their old brightness, but
at whisper from tho doctor the reporters
dashed to tho telephones, falling over one
another down the narrow stairway to the
courtyard in their efforts to tell tho news
first. While the reporters were tumbling and
running, the doctor raised Lingg's right arm
1t fell back upon the table limp. An attend
ant closed the eyelids. In a moment the lit
tie room was empty of all but the ghastly
corpse of the bomb-maker.
His death had very depressing effect on
his companions.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18

trade. 1t was in 1888 that he became asso-
ciated with Spies on the paper He owes
his education to his own diligence, and is an
able, fluent speaker. OF his personal courage
little can be said, and Fielden, when asked if
he thought Schwab threw the bomb that
killed SO many of the police, said: ~ cannot
tell. do not believe be has the courage. 1
have never seen it put to the test" His wife,
or rather the woman who lives with him in
free-love fashion, belongs to noted Anar-
chistic family, and is an exile from Austria
Schwab is wild and forocious in appearance
-is in fact, a typical Anarchist He has
been associated with the Communists of
France and Germany, and knows, from expe-
rience, how to successfully oppose the author
tiles. He was personally acquainted with
Most, the New York Anarchist, and doubt
less gained many of his ideas from that
notorious agitator. Schwab was the author
of most of the editorials that incited the
workingmen to violence that appeared in the
Arbeiter Zeltung.
Fielden's ability as a speaker was acquired
in pulpit work as a lay preacher of the
English Methodists. He was employed as a
youth at a cotton mill in Lancashire, and
taught in Sunday school. He was advanced
to be preacher on account of his gift of
ready speech and earne,tness of character.
Fielden cime to the United States in 1856.
After residing three years in Clevelani ne
made his home in Chicago, where he worked
as carpenter. Agitation was m""9 con
genial work. and as the fluent mouthpiece !
Spies he had made q reputation as an A.
archist leader when the hand of justice seized
him. In the riot he received gunshot
wound in the left knee.
George Engel has been in America between
is and lG years. He was born in Germany,
from whence he brought the socalistic opin-
ions which have led him into trouble At
the time of his arrest he was associated with
Spies in tho editorial conduct of the Arbeiter
Zeitung.
Lingg was the youngest Of the condemned
murderers, being only about @. He received
From that country he removed into Switzer-
land, and left the tiny republic for this giant
one. He associated himself with the Anar-
chists upon first coming here, and is an ex-
ample Of the danger which attends keeping
bad company
An attempt was made to prove that Lingg
was insane.
OF Adolph Fischer hut little is known. He
was Il German, and lived in the United States
from - to IA years. When arrested he was
working as printer on Spies paper.
Only one of these condemned Anarchists
was an American citizen.
The demeanor Of the msI' during conflne-
ment has been of determined, obstinate in
difference 10 all influences for or against
them. and almost to the end they held per-
sistently out against an appeal for mercy
from the governor Of their state Bombs
were found in the cell OF one Of theirnumber
another attempted suicide and threatened to
tEY it again at the first opportunity, and all
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18

A correspondent of an Eastern paper
points out the fact that at Lucerne, in
the southern part of this state, high
range of thermometer-he puts it at
116--can be endured even by the
workers in the field without great deal
of inconvenience. He attributes the
fact to the movement of the coast winds
and the cool nights which tend so much
to recuperation. This condition of the
atmosphere is not peculiar to
Lucerne and Southern California. 1t
is common also to Central and a
part of Upper California 1t is we'll
established fact that in this state ninety
degrees of heat does not cause a great
deal of personal discomfort. 1t can be
endured much more easily than seventy
six degrees at the East. The higher
range with us is not attended with
wilted collars, nor crushed wristbands,
except in the case of violent exertion.
The reason is not exclusively the
prevalence of coast winds, but the
dryness of the atmosphere. The heat
absorbed by the system at once radiates
in all directions. At the East,
in consequence of the greater moisture
of the atmosphere, the heat is retained.
Californians have been known to flee
precipitately from New York with a
thermometrical range of from seventy
six to eighty degrees, though ten
degrees more would not render them
uncomfortable IN the southern country,
or the Sacramento or San Joaquin val
leys. The radiation outward of the
heat is also supposed to account for the
absence of sunstroke, and of rabies
among dogs.-San Francisco Enquirer.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18

progressed no change whatever in their ideas,
although three deplored the results Of that
memorable day. The wife of one Of them Is
reported to have said, "Iwant to livewith the
thought Of my husband hanged that l may
be inspired to bring up two good revolu-
tionists.n
Among the accompaniments of the long
Imprisonment of the murderers, the country
has been half amused, half scandalized, by
the going about of the wives of one or two Of
the condemned men. lecturing and pleading
for the lives of their husbands. Notable
among these is Lucy A Parsons, wife of the
one who melted the riot. The recent occur
rences at the Jail are familiar to the public,
and some Of them are strange
enough to surpass fiction. Last
Wednesday, August Spies, Samuel Field
en- and Nicholas Schwab signed petition
humbly begging the Governor to commute
their sentences. These three of the seven
condemned men were the only ones who have
not written letters to the Governor that they
would not accept combinations of their SEN
tences, and that all efforts in that direction
were without their sanction.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18

The drop has fallen, the execution taken
place. The law has been carried out. The
four Anarchists are dead. Parsons, Fischer,
Engel and Spies have been hanged. Their
scaffold drop fell at 1l.54 o'clock Friday
morning Nov. IL.
The active preparations for the execution
began at s o'clock, when Chief Baililf Ca
hill arrived at the Jail and assigned the depu-
ty sherlffs to their various positions during
the event. 1t was announced that Jailer Folz
with Deputies Galpin, Spears, and Cleve-
land, would conduct the prisoners to the
sca1fold and superintend the hanging.
Deputy Leibrandt and five other deputies
were assigned to guard the main entrance to
the criminal court building. To guard the
stairs and court yard were assigned eight
deputies. Inside the Jail proper were placed
Is deputies
About 800 cards of admission to the execu-
ton were issued by Sheriff Matson out of at
least thousand applications. The persons
favored with the cards were members of the
press, all the judges of the courts city and
county officials, all members of the Anar-
chist jury who were in the city and wished
to atten1, the special jury provided by law
the members of the grand jury which re-
turned the original indictments, counsel for
the condemned men, few clergymen, and
number of prominent citizens. The cards of
admission named 10 o'clock in the morning
as the hour of execution.
Spies Parsons, Engell and Fischer marched
to the gallows on Friday at Il. 40 and at
1154 were dead
AT last the law is satisfied and the death
of four of the Anarchists on the gal
lows in expiation of their crime is the full
flment of the decree of the wisest tribunals
of the greatest country in the world What
ever may be the opinions of individuals as to
the merits of the case it is, perhaps, a
just, although hard, fate for men en-
gagged in an affair of so disastrous conse-
quences. Terror of the worst kind reigned in
Chicago during the demonstrations of the
Anarchists in May, 1886, and when the po-
lice obeyed instructions to enforce order, the
deadly, bombs made the sad havoc that cost
many lives.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18

terance bo ali kinds of opinions for and
against both the principles and their expo
nents. As result the subjects of Socialism
and Anarchism, Nihilism and all the social
questions have been before the world for
daily discussion, tending to inllame or ap-
pease, as the case might be, In consequence of
moro or less support received the Anarchists
felt that TO maintain their beliefs to the end
was q safe and right course. They were
then declared "heroes and martyrs and
great and dreadful things were threatened
10y some, and peace and order assured by
others, if they were executed. These are yet
to be demonstrated
On Augu-t 90 Spies, Parsons, Fielden
Schwab, Lingg, Engel, Fischer and Neebe were
found guilty of murder. After the verdict
had been rendered, the counsel for the con-
demned men endeavored to secure a new
trial, but this was denied on Oct. Z, and on
Oct 9, Spies, Parsons, Fielden, Schwab.
Lingg Engel and Fischer were sentenced to
be hanged on Dec. 3, and Neebe to imprison-
ment for IA years. On Nov. 25 stay Of
execution was granted pending an appeal to
the supreme court of the state, which af-
flrmed the verdict and sentenced tho prison.
ers to be hanged on Nov. IL, 1887.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18

Anarchism in America dates from about
1882, and its followers were landed in this
country during the heavy immigration from
1866 to about 1882, when the highest figures
were reached-733,992 Although immigra-
tion has been steady since, yet those figures
have never been reached. The arrivals from
England and Ireland fell off, while
the people from southern Ger
many, together with Poles, Bohemians,
Hungarians and Russians came in hordeS.
They centred around Chicago. Their chief
idea seemed to be that all capital produced
by labor should be common property. There
were so of these associations in this country
in 1885, located principally in the largest
manufacturing cities 1t was a well-organ-
lied order, governed by a central committee.
The trouble which led to the sad occur
renceof May 4. 1886, had its direct origin in
the strike in the Mccormick reaper works.
On May 3, August Spies delivered a fierce
speech against the nol-union men still in the
works. which caused conflict between the
"scabs" and strikers, the former aided
by the police. Several were killed
and many wounded. On this
Spies wrote his revenge circular
There was rioting all day of the fourth and
i'll the evening 2000 people listened to the
anarchist speeches. Here Fielden let loose
the torrents of his wrath and, as the trial dis
closed, used the words, "Arm! Arm! and
throttle the law!" One hundred and seventy
five policemen were on hand to preserve
order. The crowd had begun to disperse
on the order of Captain Ward, when all
at once an explosion occurred between
two companies of the police. A binding
flash and terrific report folowed-then yels
and Shots Two companies of police were
felled to the ground, one policeman instantly
killed, six mortally wounded, and 60 more or
less injured. The police rallied, followed the
crowd with pistols and clubs, and the streets
were soon cleared Chicago contributed $70,-
600 for the relief Of the families Of the dead
and wounded policemen.
Such dreadful consequences demanded
reckoning The leaders were arrested, tried,
and condemned. The whole world has been,
and is still ngitated over it and the con-
demned uen have been held up
as heroes and martyrs by some
and by others declared as deserving OF
their fate. After passing through all the
courts not even excepting the Supreme Court
of the United States, where it received care
full consideration, tho decree of death was
still maintained; and it was left to the execu
tive of Illinois, Governor Oglesby, on whom
the last hope for help depended, to continue
the mandates of the tribunals of the land.
Perhaps on no set of persons was there
ever so much interest centred. Every civ.
ilized nation of the world had among its
citizens those who sympathized with or con
demned The principles promulgated by the
Anarchists. Consequently the press gave ut
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18

the Jail and demanded admission. They
were refused and requested to move on
They declined to do this, and, becoming
rather violent in their talk; were arrested
without further ceremony, and taken to the
police station. There was no expression or
demonstration of sympathy on the part Of
the crowd.
At 910 a. m. Chief Deputy Gleason ar
rived with the fatal documents authorizing
the execution.
At 10 o'clock Parsons, Fischer and Spies
asked for 20 minutes each on the gallows in
which to make speeches. Fischer was sing
ing the Marseilles. in which the other pris-
oners joined.
Fischer continued to make a display of
bravado. Soon after singing the Marseil-
laise he spoke to Turnkey Stubbe in a laugh
ing way: when get to heaven, I'll put in
good word for you. dreamed about Ger
many last night, then he relapSed into si-
lence for quite a long period.
The voice of Fischer seemed round and
full, but quivering just tri1e. The reporters
pressed close about the doors of the cage and
listened till the deep tones died away in the
silence. The song lasted nearly two minutes.
The reporters were admitted into the cell
room to view the execution at 10-53. ----
At 1890 the Governor telegraphed Sheriff
Matson that there was no necessity for any
further communication with him on the sub
ject of the execution, and concluded his
telegram by, telling the sheriff to proceed with
his duty,
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18
In a jewelers. Window.

A retail ieweler says: do l ever
keep a lookout for suspicious characters
in nfront of my show-wiudow with pieces
of lead pipe or bricks2 No, / can't say
that l do. The watching wouldn't
amount to much unless it was pretty
steady, and that would necessitate a
trusted man behind the counter for that
purpose alone. But funny thing that
l do notice is the regularity with which
some people will come up to gaze upon
a certain article, who nevertheless have
ueither the means nor the desire to pur-
chase it.
"Now, a schoolboy will come again
and again to feast his eyes upon pc
culiar mechanical clock, and stick his
tongue a little further into his cheek
each time as he marvels upon how it is
made to work. Just so, I suppose are
the poorer classes of people fascinated
by a display of glistening gems, which
represent sum by them at once con-
verted in thought into delicacies in
Vulnerable, and three meals a day for
several months Sometimes ii person
becomes really attached to some article
displayed, and really feels bad when it
goes.
II remember one instance of seedy-
looking individual who came regularly
every morning and took long look at
handsome diamond and ruby bracelet
worth nearly $780, and always went
away with satisfied smile. He came
regularly for two months, and at first l
suspected him of evil designs, but soon
saw my fears were groundless. We'll,
the morning after the bracelet was sold
that man came up and looked high and
low for the familiar object. Finally he
walked in and demanded of my clerk
where it was. Sold, said he. 'Whatp
shrieked the seedy man. Sold! Why
you fraud what do you mean by putting
goods in your window to attract buyers,
and then selling them! You don't catch
me buying anything here! and he
stalked out in high dungeon. Some
other dealer is probably attracting his
custom now. have had many amusing
experiences with the window gazers,
but in oddity this one excelled them
all. ~ The JeOelerS' Weekly.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18

safe to the flor, lying there squirnin
and writhing in convuIsions.
l dared not move for nearly an hour,
until all seemed quiet; then opening the
door, dashed across the room into the
outer Office, banged to the door, locked
it, and, hatless, rushed to the nearest
police station. At first my story was
diCcredited, and was almost locked up
as being drunk, but eventually four
officers armed with revolvers came with
me.
We found the reptile nearly dead, but
still tremulous when touched, the cuts
with the keen knife, owing to the ex-
treme tension of the coils, having nearly
severed the body in half 1t measured
just 33 feet inches from head to tail
Ne'O York Sun.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18
Turned the Tables.

Mrs. Mackay lately turned the tables very
well on awould-be blaclImailor named Hertz
says Paris correspondent. The lady re
ceived letter from him some days ago in
which he stated that he was fully convinced
as to the death by foul means or a porter and
a governess who had been like him.
self in her employment. He not only in
tended to have the bodies of the deceased per-
sons exhumed by the authorities, but he was
also ready to divulge certain
family secret concerning Mistress"
Mackay unless hush money was
forthcoming. Hortz asked for tho modest
sum Of e4S0 for his silence Mistress
Mackay sent the letter to tho prefecture of
police, and Hertz was arrested Hei Ger
man, and had acted as butler to Mrs. Mac
kay in Paris. When brought before the cor
rectional chamber he admitted his guilt, and
pleaded extreme poverty. He was sentenced
to two years Imprisonment.